Top News - October - 2002 Published October 14, 2002 Mark Wolfleg Sr. leads 50 First Nations riders to Blackfoot Crossing on the Siksika Nation in southern Alberta on Sept. 20 to take part in the Treaty 7 125th anniversary commemoration events. Photo by Yvonne Irene Gladue CFWE powers up with 100,000-watt signal Métis tackle two major issues at assembly $64.3 million settlement gets thumbs up from community This is only a partial listing of the stories featured in the October 2002 issue of Alberta Sweetgrass. If you are not receiving your own copy of Sweetgrass, then you have missed out on a lot. CFWE powers up with 100,000-watt signal Page 2 What started as a distant dream has become a reality for the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA), publishers of Alberta Sweetgrass and owner-operators of CFWE, the Native Perspective, an Aboriginal radio station that can be heard across the province. Now the CFWE signal can be heard clearer and stronger than ever before in the Bonnyville/St. Paul area and for 200 km around, with the installation of a new 400 ft. tower and 100,000 watt signal at Moose Hills. Plans for the tower began 10 years ago in a company goal setting session. At that time the area was dotted with 10 small 10-watt transmitters that only sent the signal for 10 to 20 kilometres. When someone had the big idea to put out 100,000 watts of power, the idea was thought to be impossible. "At that time we said it'll never happen," said AMMSA CEO Bert Crowfoot. "We put it aside and we looked at the other goals that we had that we thought were more achievable and feasible." The idea sat on a shelf, and as the years progressed and radio achieved a certain success, the big idea that would never happen became more of a possibility. And a few years ago, plans were set in motion to finance the project. Funds were set aside from radio revenues, and a proposal was made to Aboriginal Business Canada (ABC) to help with costs. On Sept. 26, the Moose Hills site was officially powered up with a sweetgrass ceremony conducted on-site by Elder Joe P. Cardinal. An on-site ribbon cutting ceremony and feast was attended by members of the board and staff of AMMSA, their guests, and a representative from ABC, a partner in the tower becoming a reality. "The goal has always been to provide the best service that we can for our listeners," said Crowfoot. Now people in the area can drive around all day without losing or switching channels. This will allow CFWE to improve the quality of its service to the people in the area, and also plan to make improvements to its signal in other areas of the province in years to come. Coming up in the next two months is a new tower in Fort McMurray, and within the next two to three years, towers that will located just outside of Edmonton and Calgary to serve the bands located on the outskirts of the urban areas. And then one in the Grand Prairie area. After that, improvements will be made in the High Level/Peace River area. CFWE can be heard at 96.7 FM in the area of the new tower. Check the CFWE Web page at www.ammsa.com for channels in other areas of the province. Top

Métis tackle two major issues at assembly Yvonne Irene Gladue, Sweetgrass Writer, Edmonton Page 3 The definition of what is a Métis person and the possibility of ballot box elections for the Métis National Council (MNC) were two red-hot topics being discussed at the MNC annual general assembly in Edmonton on Sept. 27 and 28. Hundreds of Métis people from across the province and from B.C., Saskatchewan and Ontario gathered for the two-day assembly. According to Gerald Morin, president of the Métis National Council, the definition of who is a Métis has been debated in the community for many years. Through a unanimous decision on Sept. 28, the people agreed to define a Métis person using four main components: the person has to self-identify as Métis; the person has to be of Métis Nation ancestry; a Métis person is distinct from other Aboriginal people; and finally is accepted by the Métis Nation as a Métis. "We had a unanimous resolution adopting the definition, so that was definitely significant. I don't think that this term is set in stone yet and I imagine that it may come up for debate in future years, in future assemblies. The important thing is that we now have a definition. We never had one before, and we could never get a consensus in our communities as to whom constituted as a Métis," Morin said. The Métis National Council also decided to elect its leaders by a national ballot box elections. Currently the national president is elected by a delegate system. Morin said that the Métis nation is going give its best effort to ensure that the people have the national ballot box system so that every citizen of the nation gets the opportunity to elect their national president. "That is what the resolution says and it is something I strongly support and I'm certainly going to do whatever I can within my power to ensure that this is reality. "Now we have to go to work to ensure that we can pull this off and that the resources are in place. So that we can fully implement this resolution, but I suppose discussions will go on in the future especially as part of the issue of Métis governance," said Morin. According to Morin, the annual general assembly was a success. "We did all our business there, our audits, the president's report, reports from the Métis Nation's cabinets, and resolutions and the other decisions that took place. It was just a magnificent assembly, he said. On the Friday evening, 20 Métis veterans were presented with the Queen's Golden Jubilee medals. The Governor General of Canada gave the medals to the Métis Nation commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Queen's reign. The council decided to honor the veterans with the medals. The veterans were from Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The banquet room was filled to capacity for the procession, flag raising, dinner, speeches, presentations and dance. "I think this was definitely the highlight of the assembly. The evening went really, really well. The veterans and their families, and everyone who was gathered there, the leadership and so on, just had a wonderful evening. I think for the Métis veterans, this is the most recognition that they've ever received for their role in the war. So it was not only commemorating the 20 veterans who were there, but also to commemorate the Métis people who were involved in war time efforts and peacekeeping missions. The medals they got were very prestigious," he said. Top $64.3 million settlement gets thumbs up from community Shari Narine, Sweetgrass Writer, Piikani Nation Page 4 It may not have been overwhelming support, but it was enough to give the nod to a $64.3 million settlement agreement between the Piikani First Nation (formerly the Peigan Nation) and the federal and provincial governments. The settlement puts aside claims that the Piikani Nation may have on water rights, under Aboriginal, treaty or common law, and discontinues current legal action in regard to litigation over rights, entitlements and jurisdiction relating to the "beds, shores and water of the Oldman River as it passes through the Piikani Reserve." The ballots were tallied on Sept. 18 following three days of voting. Of the 1,848 eligible voters, 1,250 ballots were cast, 720 of which were in favor of the agreement. "I'm very relieved with the outcome of this vote," said Chief Peter Strikes With A Gun. "This is long overdue." The Piikani Nation has a "lot to gain" with the approval of this settlement agreement, said band councillor Edwin Small Legs, who helped negotiate the deal. But not every one is pleased with the outcome. Conrad Big Bull led a vocal group against supporting the agreement, saying that it wasn't rich enough or strong enough for the people. "Sixty-four million is not much money in the real world for 3,000 people," said Big Bull. "It should have been a $500 million settlement, or even $1 billion," he said. "The Canadian and Alberta governments could afford to pay for all the resources." The agreement settles disputes with the Alberta government regarding the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation Headworks and in so doing assures that the Piikani Nation benefits from the Oldman River dam reservoir and the headworks. It provides funds to the nation to pursue new economic development, business and employment opportunities, and funds for housing, community infrastructure, education and youth programs. All funds will be deposited to a Piikani Trust governed by the Piikani Trust Agreement as approved by the members. The trust agreement cannot be amended during the first eight years and any amendments after that can only be carried out with the approval of the majority of the Piikani electors. The trust account cannot be terminated. The agreement recognizes that the nation is "legally entitled to reasonable quantities of water to meet its current and future needs," reads documentation provided by the nation. As well, it allows the nation to acquire 10,300 acres of new reserve land. Four conditions had been negotiated outside of the success of the vote for the settlement agreement. A $2.44 million environmental impact assessment study will be carried out on the river valley. Piikani Nation members will participate in the Oldman Dam Hydro Project. A committee will be established by the province and Piikani Nation that will explore new infrastructure and economic development initiatives. And finally, repairs will be done by the province to the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation Canal and, where practical, labor and resources of the Piikani Nation will be used to complete the repairs. "This deal has given us spin-offs for the future, for our people, for the unborn," said Small Legs. "It will be a good kick start for us to get into some ventures we can benefit from." But perhaps most importantly, said Strikes With A Gun, the settlement will give the Piikani Nation a strong starting point when the federal government revamps governance of First Nations. "We've always been part of the land and part of the resources. I'm relieved to know that we at least have a better tomorrow," said Strikes With A Gun. Top